1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
Its formidable Second Fleet would protect sea routes, support the continent’s major naval powers, and continue to provide extended deterrence—satiating Europeans who are afraid of abandonment at a time of Russian revanchism.
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Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: Selzer has a formidable track record, but she's been off the mark before.
—Justin Green, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
On Thursday, Unrivaled added another one of Clark’s WNBA teammates, Fever star Aliyah Boston, to its formidable cast as player No. 30.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The expansion of that conflict to southern Lebanon led to Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran’s most formidable proxy, and decimated the organization’s commanding hierarchy.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for formidable 
Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: Selzer has a formidable track record, but she's been off the mark before.
—Justin Green, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
On Thursday, Unrivaled added another one of Clark’s WNBA teammates, Fever star Aliyah Boston, to its formidable cast as player No. 30.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The expansion of that conflict to southern Lebanon led to Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran’s most formidable proxy, and decimated the organization’s commanding hierarchy.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for formidable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The melodic lines, particularly for brass, are very difficult to navigate.Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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High frequencies are more difficult to block out than other tones, as high-end noise-cancelling headphones from Apple, Bose, and Sony perform similarly.PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The company continues to focus on expanding its distribution business and broadening its product range, despite the challenging economic environment.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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The digital detox journey can be challenging, but many people discover it to be rewarding in the end.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Remember to ask questions to get a clear understanding of your partners’ personal views, and try your best not to shy away from the scarier aspects of the discussions—such as death or afterlife.Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Beyoncé knows what the real scariest day of the year is.Michael Savio, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The Buffs need to find a way to grind out tough yards on the ground, especially late.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
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Bosa confirmed Wednesday that playing through a hip injury last game was the toughest pain he’s endured in 5 1/2 seasons.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Meanwhile Kelly Oubre, who was terrible with the Warriors, has found success with Philadelphia.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Elsbeth and Kaya are suspicious of Roselyn, even after Valentina’s quick assessment — supported by the medical examiner — that Claude’s death was a terrible accident.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Delays or budget overruns can erode profitability, so maintaining rigorous oversight and having contingency plans in place are both essential to navigating the complexities of large-scale developments.Meyer Orbach, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Like all the other models that will eventually populate the Classic lineup, the Runabout is set to be produced in limited numbers as a measure to ensure both exclusivity and craftsmanship of the highest, most rigorous standards.Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near formidable
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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